Apparatus for handling lithographic-printing tubes.



m. 637,58I. Patented Nov. 2|, I899. E. HETT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LITHOGBAPHIC PRINTING TUBES.

(Application filed Jan. 31, 1898.)

(No Modei.)

'IIIIIIIIl INVENTOR WITNESSES THE uunms PEYERS co, wcwvumo. WASHINGTON,n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OE ICE.

EDWARD HETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LlTHOGRAPHlC-PRINTING TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,581, dated November21, 1899.

Application filed January 31,1898. semi No. 668,588. (No model.)

To an whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD I-IETT, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York, (New Dorp,) in the county of Richmond, State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor Handling Lithographic-Printing Tubes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to printing-tubes for lithographic surfaces, andparticularly to devices for handling'such tubes and for conveying themto and-from electrolytic baths in which they receive electricallydeposited lithographic surfaces and for properly manipulating them insuch baths, so that the electrically-deposited coating upon theirsurfaces shall be smooth, even, and of the same thickness throughout.

Its object is to provide mechanism for handling such printing-tubes bymeans of which they can easily, quickly, cheaply, securely, and withprecision be carried to, be placed in, and be removed from suchelectrolytic baths and by means of which they can also be rotated duringtheir insertion intoiand their removal from such baths and while theyremain therein to prevent the electrical de posit from being irregular,uneven, or of different thicknesses upon different parts of the surfaceof such tubes, and to provide proper bearings for the tube-holders whilein the baths, and a good electrical connection between the tubes and therest of thecircuit through the electrolytic bath.

It consists of the devices herein shown and described, and pointed outin the claims at the end of this specification.

Heretofore in forming an electrically-deposited metallic lithographicsurface upon printing-tube cylinders to be used in lithographic pressesit has been necessary to con- Vey the tubes to and from the electrolyticbath and to insert them therein and withdraw them therefrom by hand. Assuch tubes are often large and heavy and are, moreover, delicate inconstruction and require careful handling, such work has heretoforenecessarily been tedious and expensive and accidents to the tubes havenot been infrequent. By means of my invention all this work is done bymachinery. The tubes are handled easily, cheaply, quickly, and withsafety and proved device viewed as shown by the arrow 0c in Fig. 3,showing in full lines the printingtube holder and printing tubeconnected thereto and in position in an electrolytic bath, thetube-holder and bath being shown in vertical section. This figure alsoshows in dotted lines the tube-holder and the tube mounted thereon atright angles to the tubeholder rod as in the act of being connected tothe latter or of being removed therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the movable carriage viewed as shown bythe arrow y in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4 is avertical section through the electrolytic bath, showing a tube-holderand tube in position. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper part of theelectrolytic bath viewed as shown by the arrow 2 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is avertical section through the lower part of the tubeholder andprinting-tube; Fig. 7 is a crosssection through the sameon the line 7 7of Fig. 6.

1 is a movable support or carriage, and 2 a tube-holder rod, by means ofwhich the printing-tube holders and printing-tubes are handled, as willbe hereinafter described. Garriage 1 is mounted upon axles 3 3, carryingwheels 4 4, which run upon rails 5 5. These rails are supported uponstandards 6 6, se-

cured to beams 7 7,which are supported in any t he carriage so as to becapable of upward and downward movement relative to the our riageand soas to becapable of a rotary movement in its bearings, as will bepresently described.

9 is a tube-holder having shoulders 10 10,

7 adapted to receive. and support a printing-J tube 11.- Theprintingrtube, holder 9 andthe.

tube-holder rod 2 are secured together by re-f movable bolts 12 12. Whena tube-holder-is thus secured to a tube-holder rod andin the positionshown by full lines in Fig, 1,,the

tube-holder and the'tubethat it-carries can be moved to any suitableposition over any electrolytic bath by the movement ofthe movablecarriage along the rails 5, and they can then be lowered into the bathby the,

downward motion'of tube-holder rod2, and

during this operation and while tube-holder and printing-tube are in thebath and while they arebeing removed therefrom a rotary" motion is givento them "by the rotation of tube-holder rod. 2' by mechanism to bepresently described. Y i 1 The movement, of carriage' 1 in one. direc-'tion or the other along rails 5 is accomplished";

. by the following-described mechanism:

' electric-motor 15.

5'. shaft are loosely mounted upon it two bevin contact with either.

,13 is ashaft mounted upon the carriage-in bearings 14. It is preferablydriven by an Toward one end of' this eled; gear-wheels 16 16,facing eachother. Be-' tween them and-also mounted on the shaft 13;.

is acompound clutch 17. This clutch may be of any ordinary constructionand revolves with the shaft. By means of any well-known midway betweenthe two gear-wheels and not When ,in" the latter I position, both of thebeveled gear-wheels remain at rest.

rotates with the shaft,

18 is a large beveled gear-wheel meshing with both of the beveledgear-wheels 16. I It' is mounted upon shaft 19, which shaft alsocarriesat its other end gear-wheel 20, the lat ter meshing withgear-wheel 21,mounted'uponr one of the axles 3 of carriage 1'. clutch 17is thrown into engagement with one; of the beveled gear-wheels 16,gear-wheellS will rotate ina certain direction andcar'riagef 1 will bemoved "in one direction along, the

Whenever rails; but when clutch 17 is thrown into en-' gagement with-theopposite beveled gear-- wheel 16 beveled gear-wheel 18 will rotate-inthe reverse direction, moving the carriage the otherway along rails'5.Thus by means of,

the mechanism operating the clutch 17 the;

operator is enabled to move the carriage 1 to any desired position uponrails 5.

1 set of two beveled gear-wheels loosely mountedyupon shaft 13andsimilarly controlled by' r t J compound clntch23 and meshing withlarge I .65

thnsraising or-lowering rod 2. l

Whenever the clutch is thrown a into engagement with one of them,thatwheel' sition. I I, 41 represents merit shaft of.az=printing:- tubeholder-"id a lithographic press, such as is showmand described; in. myapplication for a patent; Serial v No. 552,641, filed June 13, 1895,renewed .Tn'ly i12,"1898,Se'rial No. 685,764, for the purpose '2 Y Y I.637 ,581.

Uponthe sameshaftuponwhich 27 is mount-z edisialsosecureda gear wheel28.Cut upon the surface of tube-holderrod 2 isa series of,

spur-teeth,each one completely encircling the rod., The spurateethofspur-wheel 28 mesh l with the spur-teeth of rod 2, and assp'ura,

wheel 28- rotates in one direction or the other rod 2 is raised orlowered. By operating clutch 123 so as toengagerwith'one or the-otherfofbeveled gear-wheels '22 spur-wheel 28, is-

causedto rotate infone direction or the other,

The mechanism for rotating tube holder red 2 is-as followfs:29 is abeveledgear wheel loosely mounted upon shaft 13. 30 is a clutch upon thesame shaftand 'when thrown into engagement with beveled gear 29c'auses2that wheel to rotate with the shaft. Gear WheeI 29] meshes-with beveledgear-wheel 3101i shaft 32; Upon thissame shaft issecured'ge'an wheel 33,which meshes with gear-wheelo34' Whenever clutch 30, is thrownintoengagjes ment with beveled gear-wheel 29 onshaft 13,

worm-wheel 37 will revolve,- carrying with rod 2. g g

Tube-holder 9 is composed of aishaft 38,

which carries at. each end a'cylindrical'shoul der 10, upon which theprinting-tube-ll' is adapted to rest. -Notches 39 39 are out on oppositesides of these shoulders to receive projections40 40 upon the-inner"surface of printing-tnbesll. -When a printing-tube 11 is slipped upon.the printing-tube holder, projections40 40are'brought into alinementwith notches 39 39,and.after the, tube hasbeen slipped into position itis turned upon the. pri'ntingetnbe holder so as to bring the projectionsand notches into'the relativeposition shown in Fig. 7,,in which positionthe printing-tube is securely held upon th'eprint, ing -tube holdereven. when the. printing-tube holder and printing-tube are in a'verticalpoa pin in the. endof aperma;

of making connection with: shaft 38' ofrtubeholder9 for apurposeipresently' toberde- Themechanism forraisingorloweringtuhe-= l Y,holder rod 2 is. as follows: 22 22 form another scribed.

5 a wire'g42. At its lower 'end" 'thistwi're. runs a At the. oppositeend of shaft38two bolts openings are left corresponding toFsi-Yniilaropenings inthelower end of tube-holder rod 2 through which bolts 12 12can" be passed to beveled gearwheel 24 uponshaft125; The

, o latter shaft carries at its other endwotrn 26,1 which meshes withlarge worrn-whee1z27.

through shoulder 10 to the outer side and preferably bends slightlybackward to form a spring-point 43. When tube 11 is placed on thetube-holder, the spring-points 43 press against the inner surface of theprinting-tube and insure a good electrical connection at such points. 1preferably also run branches of the wire to the other shoulder, endingin similar spring-points 43 43, as clearly shown in the section formingthe lower part of Fig. 1. The upper part of the wire runs to ametallicplate 44, mounted upon shaft 38. When the tube-holder is in the bath, aspring or brush 45 presses against and makes electrical connection withplate 44. Spring 45 is secured to arm 46 and standard 47, with which oneof the wires 48, forming part of the circuit through the electrolyticbath, is connected. The opposite wire 49 of this circuit is c0nnectedthrough post 50 with the hollow cylin drical zinc plate 51, immersed inthe electrolytic bath.

52 represents the fluid of the electrolytic bath, which may be of anywell-known composition.

53 is a wooden cross-bar secured to shaft 38 of the tube-holder, whichis adapted when the tube-holder and printing-tube are in the bath torest upon the upper surface of the cell of the bath to form a bearingfor shaft 38.

54 54 are swinging screw-arms having ends pivoted at 55 in the frameworkof the electro lytic-bath cell. These swingupinto notchesin cross-bar53. By tightening the screws crossbar 53 and tube-holder 9 are firmlyheld in position in the cell, in which position the tubeholder is freeto revolve, carrying with it in its rotation printing-tube 11.

56 is a large worm-wheel fixedly mounted upon shaft 38.

57 is aworm mounted upon shaft58,adapted to be driven in any way for thepurpose of rotating worm-wheel 56 and the tube-holder and printing-tubewhen disconnected from rod 2.

The axis 38 of tube-holder 9 projects at its lower end slightly belowshoulder 10, as indicated by 59 in Fig. 1. When the tube-holder is inthe bath, this end of the shaft fits into a corresponding bearing 60 inthe lower part of the cell of the electrolytic bath. In this positionthe tube-holder has secure bearings at both ends.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The printing-tube isfirst slipped over the shoulders 10 of tube-holder 9 while the latter isin the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with projections 40 ofthe printingtube registering with notches 39 of shoulders 10. After theprinting-tube is in position upon the tube-holder it is turned upon thetube-holder until projections 40 are in substantially the relativeposition shown in Fig. 7. Tube-holder 9 is then lowered, so as to hangvertically from the end of the tubeholder rod 2. The second bolt 12 isthen put in, so as to hold it rigidly in a vertical position. Clutch 17is thrown into engagement with the proper beveled gear-wheel 16, so asto cause carriage 1 to move along rails 5 in such a direction as tobring rod 2 and printing-tube holder 9 directly over the electrolyticbat-h into which it is desired to insert the printing-tube 11. Clutch 17is then disengaged from gear-wheel 16. Clutch 23 is then thrown intoengagement with'that one of the beveled gear-wheels 22 which will causegear-wheel 28 to rotate in such a direction as to force rod 2 downward.Before printingtube 11 enters the bath clutch 30 is thrown intoengagement with beveled gear 29, thus causing worm-wheel 37 to rotaterod 2. rotation is kept up during the entire immersion in the bath anduntil printing-tube 11 has been entirely removed from the bath. Theobject of causing the rotation to begin before the immersion begins andto continue during the entire immersion is to cause the electricalcoating deposited upon the surface of the printing-tube to be smooth,even, and of the same depth over the entire surface of the printing-tubeand to prevent the coating from becoming irregular and thicker in someplaces than in others. After the printingtube has been in the bath asufficient length of time clutch 23 is thrown into engagement with theother beveled gear-wheel, whereupon rod 2 is raised until theprinting-tube and printing-tube holder are removed entirely from thebath, when clutch'30 is thrown out of engagement from gear-wheel 39,thus stopping the rotation of rod 2 and printing-tube holder 9. When thetube-holder is at the proper height, clutch 23 is. thrown into itsmiddle position. Clutch 17 is then thrown into contact with the properbeveled gearwheel 16 until carriage 1 is moved into the proper positionfor delivering the printingtubeas, for instance, opposite the permanentshaft of a printing-tube holder in a lithographic press such as is shownand described in my said applications, Serial Nos. 522,641 and 685,764.One of the plates 12 is then removed and the printing-tube holder isswung upinto a position at right angles with rod 2, as shown at dottedlines in Fig. 1. The printing-tube 11 is then removed from theprinting-tube holder in any manner. As shown in my aforesaidapplications, Serial Nos. 522,641 and 685,764, if it is desired to placeit in position upon the press the permanent shaft of the tube-holderupon the press is made to engage with shaft 38 of tube-holder 9 by meansof pin 41 in the manner shown and described in my said applications.Printing-tube 11 is then slipped 01f from printing-tube holder 9 ontothe permanent shaft of the press and is then moved into position forprinting in the press.

A number of electrolytic baths can, if desired, be employed, in thatcase the rails 5 being arranged to run over all of the baths. In case itshould be desired to use the carriage 1 while a printing-tube remains inthe This IIO

meshing with worm-wheel '56.

p tamerbaththe tube-holder rod 2lcan'be discon-TE necte'd fromthetube-holder 9-bywithdraw v ing bolts 12;. In this case the rotationof the .2 tube-holder in the bath is arranged for by means of aworm-wheel 53, mounted on shaft 88-of the tube-holder, which mesheswitha worm 57 uponshaft 58. This shaft 58 can-be driven in any manner,and where a series of electrolytic baths are used" it could .run to'allof them, having a worm 57 at each bath for.

one carriagecould be. usedwith any number. of electrolytic baths. a

By myimproved Ineansprinting-tubes are handled by machinery and areconveyed .to' and from electrolytic baths easily, quickly cheaply, andwith safety and precision-" Ati thesame time means are provided forrotatpart of the surface of the tube is in contact. I

with the liquid of the bath. Simple and eifi;-'cient-bearingsarefurnished for the printingtube holder while in thebath, and goodele'c-L trical'connections are insured withtheprinting-tube. 1

.What Iclaim as-new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

deposited coatingjin the electrolytic bath',hav-- ing shoulders forsupporting; the printing tube, a shaft upon which the shoulders are-1nounted, a conductor running through: the

shaft and adapted to bear against the print ing-tube when inposition,and havingagcom I nection with the' electric circuit for opera-tring.the electrolytic bath, substantially as set forth. I

bathof a tube-holder, adapted to support a printing-tube while-receivingan electrically deposited coatin gin the electrolyticbath,havingfshoulders for supporting the printingtube, a shaft uponwhich the shoulders are mounted, a conductor running through the shaftand adapted to bear against theprintr ing-tubewhen in position andhaving'a' con-. n'ection with the electric circuit for operating theelectrolytic bath, a worm-wheel upon the shaftof the tube-holder, aWorm-shaft meshing with itandqmeans for driving said wormshaft, wherebythe printing-tube will be reviolved while in the bath, substantially asset forth.

3; The combination with, a tube-holder,

' adapted to support a printing-tube while re:

ceivirg anelectrically-deposited coating in an electrolytic bath, havingshoulders for supporting the printing-tube, a shaft Upon t which theshoulders are mounted, a conductor running through the shaft and adaptedto bear against the printing-tube when in: .po-'

' sition, a plateat its upper end adapted to .rest upon andbe secured tothe upper end of jrad'apted to support a'printing-tube while recfell'ffor an: electrolytic bathhavii1g-a' bearing for thelower end ofthe shaft of the; printing-- tube holder, substantially as setgforth;

4. The comhination' with ,aqtllbeholder, H

Zceiv'ing. an electrically-deposited, coating in an electrolytic bath,havingv shoulders f'or supportingv the printing-tube, va shaftyu'ponwhich the shoulders are mounted,- a conductor .runn-ing through theshaftand {adapted to In this way ear against the printing-tube-Wheninposi-.

, tion, .and a inotched plate'at its upjperfend, of I a cellfor anelectrolytic: bath having. a bear-- fing. for the lowerf end of theshaft of the printing-tube holder andswinging screws-and 'nutsxadaptedto. fit, into the notchesg-ofthe notched plate and-whentightened toform: 1 116 7 upper bearing for the tube-holder shaft;su-bingjtheprinting-tu-bes'at all times when: any

stantiall-yas-set forth."

1 5'. The combinationzwith a-support orfcarriage, a tube-holder rod adjistablyzseeured thereto, means upon said carriage forlowe'ring andraising the rod,1and;for rotating it,

i of ,a tube-holder, adapted to carry aprintingtube, removably securedto the lowerend of sa'id tube-holder rod and adapted to. swingfat grightangles lthereto, a shaft for saidtube- ,L The combination with anelectrolytic: bath of a tube-holder adapted to. support aprinting-tubewhile receiving an electrically.

holderhaving its lower end adaptedito-fi t into a bearing therefor inthe cell of an electrolytic bath and having a-plate atitsupper 2 endadapted to .rest upon and be securedto the upper end of the celltofurnish a bearing '1 for the upper end of the'shaft of thetube' holderrod, and a cell for an electrolyticba-th whereby printing-tubes maybe-placed in or removed from electrolytic baths and; may be rotatedwhilein the bath and do ring their insertion and withdrawal,"substantially:as set fo'rth. 2. The combination with an electrolytic for; moving it, atube-h01der rod adjustably secured to said carriage, means; upon saidcarriage for lowering and raising the rod, and

[for rotating it, of a tube-holder, adapted to carry a printing-tube,removably secured to .the'lower' end of said tube-holder rod and adaptedto swing at right angles thereto, a shaft for said'tube-holder'havingits lower 6. The combination with a carri'age,;means end adapted to fitinto abearing therefori-n the cell of an electrolytic bath and havingaplate at its upper end adapted to rest upon 7 and be secured to theupper end oftheucell to furnish a bearing for the upper end of the shaftof the tube-holder rod and a cell for an electrolyticbath wherebyprinting tubesmay be placed in or removed from electrolytic .ba-thsandmay be rotated while in the, bath andduring their insertion andwithdrawal, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my I name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses; I a I EDWARD HETT;

Witnesses: I

.SIDNEY MANN, p, EDWIN SEGER.

